Association of Progressive Rental Organizations

APRO Staff Tours Vox-Pop-Uli Headquarters

APRO staff enjoyed learning more about associate member Vox-Pop-Uli and how they do what they do so well – (L to R) Jen Troke, Amberlee Maya, Cindy Hajduk, Andrew Hajduk, and Charles Smitherman.

During a recent visit to Atlanta, Georgia, APRO team members got a bonus tour of Vox-Pop-Uli, Inc.’s headquarters. The 29-year-old APRO associate member is a marketing production business, helping companies grow their brands via printing, apparel, and specialty engraving.

Vox’s Chief Operating Officer, Cindy Hajduk, guided APRO CEO Charles Smitherman, Vice President of Membership Jen Troke, and Director of Marketing & Communications Amberlee Maya through the enormous space, showcasing the company’s operations, equipment, and unique company culture.

Vox has been working with rent-to-own clients for almost a quarter-century, beginning with Aaron’s Sales & Lease Ownership. Today, RTO makes up about 40% of the company’s clients, which includes Buddy’s Home Furnishings, Arona Corporation dba Arona Home Essentials, Baber’s, EZ Furniture Sales & Leasing – plus, APRO and RTO World too!

Vox’s bustling facility is 27,000 square feet filled with massive machinery and 24 hardworking team members fulfilling orders at full capacity. According to Hajduk, Vox hopes to expand into an adjacent space within the year, almost doubling the company’s physical space and upping its production capability in apparel, fabric signage, and promotional support items.

Vox COO Cindy Hajduk shows off examples of the company’s many dazzling apparel offerings. 

Vox headquarters hosts plenty of impressive equipment. A few examples include:

  • large-format latex machinery – used to create vehicle wraps and pressure-sensitive vinyls;
  • wide-format dye sublimation equipment – used to print on fabrics such as tents, tradeshow displays, and feather flags;
  • direct-to-object printers – used to print directly onto custom items like golf balls, drumsticks, and water bottles; and
  • laser engravers – used to create plaques, crystals, leather items, and other specialty gifts.

The company also boasts a truly dog-friendly workplace, complete with doggy doors installed in every office door and business cards for the regulars – which include Bentley, Blaze, Hershey, and Ralphie, with visits from Maverick. One Vox associate had been torn about leaving his previous job until he learned about the pup-friendly policy; he gave his notice at the prior job the next day!

The APRO staff was likewise introduced to one final company critter – Moxy, the illustrated Vox Ox, who serves as Vox’s mascot.

“Moxy is bold, brave, and built to last,” said company President Andrew Hajduk, “reflecting our company – bold with marketing, brave to try new things, and built to last the past almost-30 years and into the future!”

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Mike Lewis

Mike Lewis is a Premier Rental Purchase franchisee with multiple stores and currently serves as Vice President of Operations. With 33 years of experience in the rent-to-own industry, he has spent the past 20 years working closely with franchisee owners and previously spent 12 years in Corporate RTO, gaining a strong foundation in the business.

For the past five years, Mike has been sharing his knowledge by teaching managers and franchisees at the company’s Training Center.

Outside of work, he enjoys time with his family, kids, and grandkids, and appreciates the simple things in life – especially riding his Harley Davidson with the sun on his face. If you know, you know!

Lauren Talicska

Arona Corporation dba Arona Home Essentials

Lauren Talicska is an experienced multi-channel marketing specialist and the Vice President of Marketing & Communications at Arona Home Essentials. She has found her home in the RTO community, supporting stores in branding, growth, and increasing traffic.

You may recognize Lauren as a former RTO vendor, including her time as a partner for Nationwide RentDirect, or her previous participation in the APRO Vendor Advisory Committee. Lauren calls Columbus, Ohio, home and spends her workday crafting and executing marketing promotions from inception to realization, all while supporting the branding and social media needs of all the Arona stores in 12 states (plus Puerto Rico!).

Charles Smitherman

APRO

Charles Smitherman, JD, PhD, CAE, became CEO of APRO in 2023, bringing years of legal and executive experience in the rent-to-own industry. 

Prior to joining the association, Charles served as COO, General Counsel, and Vice President of PTS Financial Services, where he played an active role in the rent-to-own industry by representing his company through PTS’s club program offering with APRO member dealers. Charles is an attorney with two decades of experience across a wide variety of areas, including RTO, consumer financial services, antitrust, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, litigation, franchise law, and privacy law. Following law school at the University of Georgia, Charles earned a Master of Legal Studies and PhD in Law from the University of Oxford in England.

Charles is credentialed as a Certified Association Executive (CAE) with the American Society of Association Executives, a Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) with the International Franchise Association, and a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) and Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) through the International Association of Privacy Professionals. As APRO’s sixth CEO in its 45-year history, he brings a collaborative, member-focused approach to association leadership, emphasizing transparency, advocacy, and value creation. Outside of work, Charles is an active ultra runner and open water swimmer.

Mike Kays

Ashley Furniture Industries

As VP of Rental Sales for Ashley Furniture Industries, Mike thrives on building relationships with our RTO industry veterans, and helping businesses grow through new product, new marketing, and new supply chain options.

Mike works to leverage a wide breadth of relationships and influence, intimate knowledge of market trends, and unique knowledge of what RTO dealers need from a supplier to be successful.

The saying goes that a high tide raises all boats, and our goal is to leverage the world’s largest furniture manufacturer to drive the continued growth of the RTO industry and all the suppliers.

Mike Tissot

Countryside Rentals Inc., dba Rent-2-Own

Mike grew up in the rent-to-own industry under the guidance of his father, former APRO President and RTO legend Darrell Tissot. For nearly 25 years, Mike’s innovative leadership has helped expand the family business to more than 40 stores across Ohio and Kentucky while also shaping the industry as a whole.

He has served as President of the Ohio Rental Dealers Association, an APRO board member and Treasurer, and President and Treasurer of the TRIB Group. His contributions have earned him the APRO President’s Award of Excellence and the title of APRO Rental Dealer of the Year.

Outside of RTO, Mike enjoys time at the lake house or in Orange Beach, Alabama, with his girlfriend, Angela Strong McCool. A passionate Cincinnati Reds fan, he rarely misses a game, whether watching or listening alongside his parents. He also takes every opportunity to visit Arizona, where his daughter is currently attending Arizona State University.